seisa pain

So i mentioned that I went to watch Japanese tea ceremony last weekend. What I didn't mention was the humiliation I experienced while I was there. In Japan there is a certain way to sit in formal situations called "seisa" basically kneeling with a straight posture and your feet under your bum. Easy right? Let's try it together.

3 mins later... No problem right? Easy enough to keep your back straight and feels pretty good

10mins Starting to regret wearing skinny jeans

15mins serious pins and needles

20mins feet are feeling heavy and cold

25mins can't really feel anything from the knee down

30 mins wondering if the deprivation of blood and therefore oxygen to my legs will cause any lasting damage

31 mins slightly shift my weight forward. MISTAKE!!! the blood rushes into the lower half of my legs and I am immobilised. I cant sit back on my feet in the kneeling position because of the pain, the lack of blood means I have no control over the movement of my feet

33mins can move my feet with the aid of my hands

34mins Am escorted from the room by one of the women conducting the tea ceremony. Tears are leaking from my eyes as I walk out the room, I can't stop them and I can't work out if it is because of the pain or the humiliation, or if I have finally cracked and become hysterical. Yet there is still a small corner of my mind which is finding the whole situation funny. I am led to a chair, seated an informed I can watch the rest of the ceremony from here.

At least the food was good.